Episodes

  • "BAD COUNSELORS" - 1200 American Reasons this Film ROCKS & the Stories Behind It!

    "BAD COUNSELORS" - 1200 American Reasons this Film ROCKS & the Stories Behind It!
    May 21 2026
    Send us Fan MailJen comes back to cohost this special (Trailer Link:) BAD COUNSELORS episode to mostly keep me in check from sounding too much like an infomercial, but honestly, I'm so inspired by this film that I'm not sure she was successful.In this episode we talk about how we beat the odds - the decade long process from idea to movie screen with BAD COUNSELORS. In fact, not only did we break records -- we CRUSHED them. From first reading the script on November 18, 2024 (and guess what? we exposed the original title of the script!) to rolling cameras May 2025 to hitting 1000-plus screens nationwide this July 22!How bout them apples!!!We also talk about all the players on this very blessed team from the amazing actors, to the crew members, to the producers, and to the writers and director - and, we even touch on all the NCAA Athletes and vendors involved after the cameras stopped rolling and the work to find a big audience begins.Bottom line, we hit it all... so if you're interested in knowing how a movie comes together and what the needs to ALL GO RIGHT for a movie to be great, you're listening to the right episode of #PlateAndPonder! Enjoy!! #BADCOUNSELORSMOVIEwww.badcounselors.comAnd here's the #RealClearPolitics op-Ed we refer to in the episode:Hollywood Sold Out. I’m Betting on America to Bring It Back!As production flees overseas and jobs disappear at home, a fully American-made film offers a path forward.By Chris FentonFor years, I helped Hollywood chase the world… And now I regret it.I sat in many rooms where movie deals were struck to open China’s market and others around the world, attract international audiences, and globalize production efficiencies. We believed we were building a more efficient entertainment industry without borders, powered by billions of consumers, cheap labor, and foreign incentives.In many ways, we succeeded—especially by short-term financial measures. But for America’s longer-term interests, we failed miserably.We told ourselves global commerce would lead to convergence, better monetization, and shared values. Instead, we created a slow-moving trainwreck of imbalance. Markets like China protected their domestic film industries with quotas, censorship, and restricted revenue shares, while Hollywood recklessly adapted for access. Scripts were adjusted. Pro-American themes, even in their most subtle forms, were nullified. Storylines softened. Creative decisions bent to the realities of mandates from the Middle Kingdom to the Middle East. This creative-stifling behavior complemented Hollywood’s fervent drive to keep production costs low by finding cheaper labor and grander incentives than America provided. Capitalism trumped patriotism, but at the time it simply felt like smart business. Looking back, however, the cost is now painfully clear.Los Angeles alone has lost more than 40,000 film and television jobs in recent years—roughly a quarter of its entertainment workforce. Production employment is down nearly 30% since 2022. On-location filming has dropped more than 20% in the last year alone and nearly 40% over the past decade. Atlanta—once the crown jewel of “Hollywood South”—saw production spending collapse from $4.4 billion in 2022 to roughly $2.3 billion today, a nearly 50% drop. Hollywood offshores more than 60% of its production annually now. As a result, America has lost a major economic engine along with significant global cultural influence. Hollywood didn’t slowly decline—it hollowed out—as did the industry’s appetite to project pro-American idealism globally.This isn’t a temporary slowdown. It’s deeply structural. Like many other industries, Hollywood chased efficiency and global scale for decades. Productions moved wherever incentives were strongest and labor was cheapest. Financing followed international capital. And foreign governments offered subsides aggressively, pulling jobs, expertise, and infrastructure out of the United States—often while using ruthless protectionist policies to nurture their own domestic players.The result was predictable. Reckless globalization didn’t just change where and how Hollywood’s films are made—it changed who makes them and stars in them too. Today, a disproportionate share of top-tier, box-office-leading English-speaking actors come from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. American-born stars account for less than half of the industry’s biggest global draws—despite the United States representing roughly three-quarters of the English-speaking world. Studios increasingly cast British and Australian actors as Americans, not just for talent but for global market appeal.Hollywood didn’t just export its films—it imported its priorities and American interests, favoring global optimization over domestic industry investment.We assumed American dominance in entertainment was permanent. It isn’t. Even worse, many are ok with that.If we want Hollywood to remain the global...
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    38 mins
  • Kids Crash Our Empty Nest. Chaos Results. Chris Goes SOLO & Drops Balls & Strikes on the US-China Summit!

    Kids Crash Our Empty Nest. Chaos Results. Chris Goes SOLO & Drops Balls & Strikes on the US-China Summit!
    May 19 2026

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    8 DAYS of non-stop DMs and texts from you legends screaming “WHERE’S THE NEW EPISODE?!”
    The empty nest? Officially CRASHED. Both kids are back home for the summer and the Fenton household is pure chaos.

    So I (Chris) said screw it — grabbed the mic solo, jumped straight into my wheelhouse with zero script and maximum flair, and delivered the most unfiltered take you’ve heard on last week’s “historic but ho-hum” US-China summit.

    No holding back. No bias. Just straight-up balls-and-strikes commentary with laughs, eye-rolls, and the kind of real talk that makes you spit out your coffee. You’re gonna hear exactly how I think that whole thing went down… and trust me, it’s equal parts ridiculous and revealing.

    This is Plate & Ponder like you’ve never heard it — raw, solo, and ridiculously on point.

    Drop a DM if you’ve been waiting for this one, smash that like button, and share it with every empty-nester (and full-house parent) you know!

    Jen’s back next week… but this one? This one’s all me.

    #PlateAndPonder #EmptyNestLife #ChrisGoesSolo #USChinaSummit #BallsAndStrikes #NoBiasJustFacts #EmptyNestersUnite #PodcastHumor #RealTalk #FamilyChaos #FentonFam
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    35 mins
  • "Empty Nest Whiplash: College Kids Home, Dirty Rooms, Full House Joy & Mother's Day Magic"

    "Empty Nest Whiplash: College Kids Home, Dirty Rooms, Full House Joy & Mother's Day Magic"
    May 9 2026

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    In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Plate & Ponder: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton, the empty nest gets flipped upside down when the college kids come home for a visit. Jen and Chris share the wild whiplash of going from peaceful empty-nesting to full-house chaos — dirty rooms, mountains of laundry, late curfews, a barking dog, and a constant stream of friends coming through the door.

    Amid the beautiful mess, they celebrate the pure joy and deep love of a full house and having their family back under one roof. The conversation also turns to the importance of Mother’s Day, the inspiring story of its founder Anna Jarvis, and the staggering $38 billion Americans spend honoring moms each year. Plus, they dive into the excitement of the hockey playoffs and swap stories about those notoriously gross college apartments.

    Funny, honest, and overflowing with heart — this episode is a must-listen for every parent navigating the rollercoaster of kids coming home.

    #EmptyNestWhiplash
    #CollegeKidsHome
    #FullHouseChaos
    #DirtyLaundryDays
    #MothersDay2026
    #EmptyNesterLife
    #MomLifeUnfiltered
    #ParentingWhiplash
    #PlateAndPonder
    #FullHouseJoy

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    37 mins
  • Randomness & Full Nest Frenzy: Packing Wars, Salt-Free Hell & Britney Over Trump (We Still at War?)

    Randomness & Full Nest Frenzy: Packing Wars, Salt-Free Hell & Britney Over Trump (We Still at War?)
    May 1 2026

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    And tonight, we typed in to Grok to see what AI thinks of the episode... And, you know what, it gave a pretty darn good summary of how random and fun this episode was:

    "This title nails the whole episode vibe in one punchy, curiosity-sparking line: the end of empty-nesting summer chaos, the Jen-vs-Chris packing showdown (snowflakes vs. survival skills), Chris’s brutal no-salt detox meltdown, the head-scratching national news priorities (weather and Britney over Trump and Iran), and that perfect 80s music tangent about why we all secretly miss those teenage-lust anthems—even if they kill the symbolism deep-dive. It’s fun, conversational, a little cheeky, and screams “hit play” without spoiling the laughs. "

    Please follow, download, and enjoy!

    #PlateAndPonder #Trump #Britney #Aha #TheBoss #FranklinTN #HighBloodPressure #Iran #Epstein #MKultra

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    34 mins
  • "Midnight Train to Simpler Times: Keep Believing, Craving the 80's, & No More Assassination Attempts!"

    "Midnight Train to Simpler Times: Keep Believing, Craving the 80's, & No More Assassination Attempts!"
    Apr 27 2026

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    Why the heck is EVERYONE obsessed with the 80s & 90s right now?

    In this raw, heartfelt episode of Plate & Ponder: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton, we crack open ONE single verse from Journey’s legendary “Don’t Stop Believin’” — “Just a small-town girl, livin’ in a lonely world… She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere / Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit…” — and it unlocks EVERYTHING about why analog life felt so free, hopeful, and simple compared to today’s digital chaos.

    Then we go heavy: the third assassination attempt on Trump last night. We don’t shy away — we ask the tough questions: Why is this happening in America? How do we actually prevent the next one?

    But it’s not all serious. Jen puts Chris in the hot seat with ultra-specific questions to test how well he REALLY knows her after all these years (the answers are equal parts hilarious and adorable). We laugh, banter, roast the latest news, and remind you why empty-nesting together is still the best adventure.

    If you’re tired of the noise, craving real connection, and secretly wishing you could hop on that midnight train back to simpler times… this episode is for YOU.

    Hit play (follow, download, enjoy, & review). Feel the nostalgia. Remember why we still believe.

    #DontStopBelievin #80s90sNostalgia #TrumpAssassinationAttempt #EmptyNestLife #PlateAndPonder

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    37 mins
  • "Empty Nest, Empty Vault: 40 Years Since Geraldo's Epic Al Capone Flop, Epstein, Butler, PA & Trump, Missing Scientists, Charlie Kirk's Killer, & More Iran Chaos!"

    "Empty Nest, Empty Vault: 40 Years Since Geraldo's Epic Al Capone Flop, Epstein, Butler, PA & Trump, Missing Scientists, Charlie Kirk's Killer, & More Iran Chaos!"
    Apr 20 2026

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    Jen & Chris Fenton are back at the table for the most jam-packed, jaw-dropping Plate & Ponder yet!

    They kick things off with a spectacular celebration of the 40th anniversary of Geraldo Rivera’s live TV disaster — cracking open Al Capone’s vault on national television… only to find… nothing. Pure comedic gold that still has America laughing (and side-eyeing every “bombshell” reveal).

    From there it’s a wild ride through the headlines you can’t look away from:

    • The chilling mystery of 11 elite American scientists who simply vanished
    • The Epstein files that still refuse to close
    • New layers on the Butler assassination attempt on Trump
    • The hunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer
    • Explosive updates from the Mangione trial
    • The shocking murders of Minnesota state elected officials
    • Exactly where this Iran conflict is headed — and what’s really happening on the ground

    They don’t stop there. Jen and Chris get real about the haunting drive up PCH through Malibu — where the lack of rebuilding after the fires leaves a devastating visual scar you can’t unsee. Plus, the terrifying prediction that Europe could literally run out of jet fuel right as summer travel season hits.

    And because it’s Plate & Ponder, of course there’s dinner drama: Chris’s glorious “cheating days” are here — pizza, steak frites, and all the forbidden SALT he can handle before he crawls back to his brutal no-salt week. Jen’s “UGH” says it all.

    Raw, honest, hilarious, and unfiltered — this is empty-nesting at its most entertaining. Grab your plate, pull up a chair, and ponder with them.

    Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

    #EmptyNestEmptyVault #PlateAndPonder #GeraldoVaultFail #EpsteinMystery #TrumpAssassinationAttempt #MissingScientists #CharlieKirk #MangioneTrial #MinnesotaMurders #IranConflict #MalibuPCHDevastation #NoSaltDietCheat #EuropeJetFuelCrisis #JenAndChrisFenton #EmptyNestingLife #ConspiracyAndChardonnay
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    38 mins
  • Spencer Pratt for LA Mayor! Ryan Gosling is Handsome AF in Project Hail Mary, & Chris's 100% Made-in-the-USA Film Saves a Hollowed-Out Hollywood!

    Spencer Pratt for LA Mayor! Ryan Gosling is Handsome AF in Project Hail Mary, & Chris's 100% Made-in-the-USA Film Saves a Hollowed-Out Hollywood!
    Apr 18 2026

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    Plate & Ponder: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton

    Empty-nesting just got loud, proud, and unapologetically fun!

    Jen & Chris are back at the table breaking down:

    • The ultimate battle of Men’s Volleyball GOATs (sparks flew) - Zach & Andrew Chapin (Pepperdine vs USC - 2X)...
    • Spencer Pratt’s bold-as-hell, no-filter chase for Mayor of Los Angeles
    • Why Ryan Gosling looks ridiculously handsome and absolutely crushes it in the massive new blockbuster Project Hail Mary — Chris is calling it one of the most entertaining, pure-Hollywood movies in years. NO LEFT / NO RIGHT - Just PURE Entertainment and Emotional Tugs!
    • And the mic-drop moment: Chris’s own comedy Bad Counselors was shot 100% in America with an all-American crew and cast — at a time when 60% of Hollywood productions are filmed overseas and 50% of its biggest stars are foreign. HOW BOUT THEM APPLES! And it's coming to a theater near you this summer!

    Real talk, big laughs, zero apologies, and a whole lot of American pride. This is the kind of episode you’ll finish and immediately text your group chat about.

    Grab a plate, hit play, and join the conversation!

    What do you think — is Spencer Pratt actually the shake-up LA needs? Drop your take below!

    #ProjectHailMary
    #RyanGosling
    #SpencerPrattForMayor
    #LAMayor
    #SpencerPratt

    #BadCounselors
    #AmericanMade
    #MadeInUSA
    #Hollywood

    #PlateAndPonder
    #EmptyNesting
    #Podcast

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    37 mins
  • Tiger Woods, Britney Spears & Eric Swalwell Walk Into Our Empty Nest! Rory!!

    Tiger Woods, Britney Spears & Eric Swalwell Walk Into Our Empty Nest! Rory!!
    Apr 13 2026

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    Plate & Ponder: Empty Nesting just dropped the most unhinged family dinner table rant you’ll hear all week.

    In this episode, Jen & Chris Fenton are officially feeling the empty-nest vibes—college internships, final exams, and the wild new Company Retreat Series are hitting different now that the kids are launching.

    Then the conversation takes a hard left:

    • Tiger Woods’ Masters magic was missed (and the golf drama that had Chris yelling at the TV). BUT HOW BOUT RORY!
    • Britney Spears’ latest chaos (because of course it came up)
    • Eric Swalwell somehow sliding into the mix like that one uncle who won’t stop talking politics

    It’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and “wait… how did we get HERE?” — the exact chaotic energy that makes you hit play and text your group chat the link.

    If you’ve ever mixed golf takes, pop-star meltdowns, and congressional shade while figuring out what life looks like when the kids move out… this one’s for you.

    Listen now wherever you get your pods
    Drop your favorite unhinged tangent in the comments — we read every single one!

    #PlateAndPonder #EmptyNestLife #TigerWoods #BritneySpears #FamilyChaos #PodcastVibes
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    39 mins